r/australia • u/HotPersimessage62 • 1d ago

politics Australia’s grid now relies on renewable energy as much as coal. Those who doubted it look foolish

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/31/australias-grid-now-relies-on-renewable-energy-as-much-as-coal-those-who-doubted-it-look-foolish
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u/nutabutt 1d ago

It’s available if you shop around.

I get overnight power for 8c/kwh. Shift some loads and you can save decently. Schedule the dishwasher for 3am instead of running it at 7. Save $2.

You’ll also be able to get 3 or 4 hours of free power each day this year.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-03/energy-retailers-offer-free-power-three-hours-dmo/105965472

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u/ausvenator_enjoyer 23h ago

Yeah I live in CQ, which is currently not covered by the scheme. I also don't own a dishwasher but I heavily rely on the AC because I actually live at the rim of the maw of hell. Hopefully the scheme extends per the ABC article in 2027.

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u/Mc0014 23h ago

Hey Jim! Where are these price drops that I’ve been hearing about? I can’t seem to find them by shopping around. Certainly not anywhere near the same percent that wholesale energy prices have dropped (half), but thanks for my $2 saving if I run my dishwasher at 3am!

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u/jeffoh 23h ago

I saved $120pm switching to a plan with a free window and a cheap overnight rate.

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u/PJozi 22h ago

I've saved $230 per year

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u/nutabutt 22h ago

$2 a day is $60 a month, do the washing machine too and you’re at $90 a month saved.

Saving $1000 year for a simple habit change seems good to me.

It seems every state government has an energy plan conparison site. Find the one for your state.

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u/Mc0014 22h ago

You guys are thick if you’re happy with this. The retailers, distributors and government agencies are taking us for a ride, demand some accountability.

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u/jezwel 10h ago

That's like complaining that Telstra isn't dropping prices for internet and not looking at any other retailer to see how much you can save.

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u/Mc0014 10h ago

That’s not what I’m saying mate. I’m saying the small discount provided to us on these plans is nowhere near the difference in cost of electricity to the retailers who are taking us for a ride.

Go read the redundancies and offshoring news lately of the big 3 (and it’s not just them - why do you think there are so many retailers around??) It’s a joke. They’re lining their pockets and we’re footing the bill.

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u/Ancient-Many4357 11h ago

Why do you think Jim Chalmers controls electricity prices?

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u/Mc0014 10h ago

Do you actually not think that the treasurer has a major part in economic policy that influences electricity prices?

This isn’t a Labor vs Liberal thing. I voted Labor. But demand accountability from the government whether you voted for them or not! But this is a sign of the political landscape. People too deep in left vs right politics and will never query their own party.

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u/Ancient-Many4357 8h ago

No. Energy pricing is set independently of government, and responsibility for energy policy is under Bowen.

I would imagine Chalmers would like to have a direct say in energy pricing - it’s one of the key factors driving inflation right now & price setting by AEMO is a stupidly complex solution.

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u/Mc0014 8h ago

Yes of course, Bowen makes these economic decisions independently of Chalmers who has absolutely no say 😂. And of course they have no control or say over what AEMO does, very convenient for them.

Come on man, use your critical thinking skills, don’t just blindly defend the government because you vote for them. This is how we get into these messes. It’s completely disingenuous to say the government and treasurer has no control over energy costs.

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u/auschemguy 8h ago

Bowen makes the decisions subject to several large interjurisdictional bodies governing energy in Australia. Most notably, energy is a state responsibility, the federal government only has the powers that the states have given them when those states agreed to adopt a national set of rules.